THE ABSENT SKYSCRAPER
For thousands of years man has taken from nature to sustain survival. Rapidly depleting resources calls for rethinking the way we relate to our surroundings- a radical departure from the accepted approach to the built environment. We dream for a spatial solution that allows us to exist symbiotically with nature. Taking only as much space needed to anchor the skyscraper, we seek to touch lightly on the earth, leaving as little trace as possible.
The absent skyscraper is an antithesis of the archetypical skyscraper. Rather than an edifice which bears heavily upon the urban fabric seeking to dominate the skyline, its presence is barely perceptible as its lucent form rises in the sky.
Sitting at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers, which bear historically poignant significance as the city’s origin, the skyscraper symbolically represents a rebirth of the city as it celebrates evolution of the built environment.
The City Centre of Kuala Lumpur suffers annually from flash floods as the Klang and Gombak Rivers which traverse the city overflow during the rainy seasons. Highly concentrated development due to land shortage has narrowed the rivers at certain stretches and further worsens the situation. Given the fact that these rivers flow through heavily populated areas of the Klang Valley, the pollution of the rivers greatly contribute towards the disruptive flash floods which constantly threaten the city.
Water from the rivers is channelled upward to form a vertically rising water body stored within the confines of a structural sheer glass wall.
Located inside this glass encasement are various pods which resemble air bubbles that encapsulate offices, residential units, rainforest cultivation and various other prototypes for human activity. These Pods are mobile and can come together to form a combination of pods, allowing greater spatial flexibility and optimisation of space.
The pods have the capacity to float about freely but are attached to a central Spine which acts as a portal through which the Pods are accessed.
Water that passes through the tank is processed through a series of filtration systems in an effort to Depollute the rivers which is beneficial for flood mitigation and environmental restoration.
As the water is once again made habitable, various species of fish and freshwater fauna may be introduced and bred, rendering the entire reservoir as a massive Aquatic Facility for bio research purposes.
The water catchment also serves as a Reservoir that acts to mitigate floods by temporarily storing flood waters and releasing it at a safe flow rate.
Renewable Energy is harvested via water turbines activated by the torrents of water as they are released back into the rivers.
Water surrounding the pods help dissipate heat thus minimising the need for air conditioning requirements and Reduce Energy Consumption.
Rainforest Regeneration occurs in specifically designated Pods which help replace horizontal surface borrowed for the footprint of the skyscraper.
The Spine also doubles up as a flute that captures rising draughts of hot air in the surrounding area. Located within the spine are several layers of filters which act as particle collectors that Clean the Air as it rushes through.
